Beverages | İçkiler

Beverages common to Turkish cuisine include ayran (a salted yoghurt drink), coffee and tea. Furthermore, Turkish tea is considered by many to be the national drink. Typical alcoholic beverages include beer, wine and rakı (an anise flavored drink). In Turkey, it is generally believed that the consumption of cold beverages leads to a sore throat. As a result, drinks are not typically served with ice.

Ayran | Salted Yoghurt

Ayran is a yoghurt based beverage. Although there is no evidence to the origins of ayran, it is believed to have originated in Southern Anatolia as a way to preserve yoghurt.

Lemonade | Limonata

Lemonade is called limonata in Turkish. The ancient Egyptians developed the first lemonade around 500 AD. The beverage was so valued that it was only allowed to be consumed by the Pharaoh.

Raki | Rakı

Raki is considered by many as the national alcoholic beverage of Turkey. Unlike beer or wine, which are produced by fermentation, raki is produced from distilled raisins and aniseed.

Turkish Coffee | Kahve

Coffee is said to have been introduced to Turkey by Ottoman Governor Özdemir Pasha. Istanbul’s first coffeehouse was opened in 1554. Today, coffee persists as an important part of the social and cultural experience.